BUSINESS CENTER

Starting a Small Business in Rocky Mount

Alan Matthews, Director of Business Recruitment
Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce

Rocky Mount is located in the heart of the I-95 and US 64 corridors geographically centered between New York and Florida. Including a two-county population of 143,025 we rank as the 15th largest city in the state of North Carolina. Rocky Mount serves a five county market as the Regional Retail Center for Northeastern North Carolina with a population base of over 300,000. Like most cities located on an interstate corridor in southeastern United States, Rocky Mount enjoys a thriving Small Business sector.

EBI or Effective Buying Income in the Rocky Mount area, as measured by Sales & Marketing Magazines Annual Survey of Buying Power, saw our Highest level of income $50,000 and over grow from 17.8% of households in 2002 to 25% of households in 2004. This represents the highest growth of all Metropolitan Statistical Areas in North Carolina.

YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR NEW BUSINESS HERE IN ROCKY MOUNT!!!

Rocky Mount offers many unique features that support a strong business environment: Wesleyan College, Nash Community College and Edgecombe Community College offers excellent sources of full and part time labor.

The RWI Shuttle Express, operating from Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport, offers transportation to RDU at very reasonable rates. The shuttles are timed to meet the majority of RDU outgoing and incoming banks of flights, and takes into consideration the recently imposed earlier arrival times. RDU has granted the shuttle service special status with reserved pick-up and drop-off zones at all terminals. Six round trips are made daily between RWI and RDU, starting at 5:00 a.m., and picking up at RDU as late as 10:30 p.m. Limited shuttle service is offered on the weekends. Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport offers connections to Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte International Airports that have direct flights to all major US cities.

While some start-up businesses remain small by design, many local companies have experienced rapid growth and now employ hundreds of people. Large corporations like RBC Centura Bank, Boddie-Noell Enterprises and MBM Corporation are headquartered here.

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Before You Open Your Doors for Business

1. Why do I want to start a business?
   You may desire the independence of working for yourself, or to capitalize on an invention or market opportunity for personal gain, or self-employment is a better option than unemployment. Your answer does have an impact on how you will run the business, the choices you make regarding company structure and size, financial decisions, marketing strategies and employment issues. Remember, for most start-up businesses, the owner is the company.
2. What is the product or service I have to sell?
   If you choose to provide an established product or service, consider your competitive advantage: what do you have to offer over and above the competition. If you are providing a new product or service, how long before competitors enter your market, and how will you respond?
3. Who will purchase our products or services?
   The marketplace is becoming more and more competitive. Buyers have less and less time to examine their choices of products or services. Today's supermarket is a good example of the increasing number of choices of new products from which to choose a meal. To truly compete in today's marketplace, you must be able to identify your customers and meet that demand. This involves identifying your customer, understanding why they make the purchasing decisions they do, and then positioning yourself to make a profit for your efforts.

Resources for New Businesses and links to information

New businesses often need access to free and low-cost resources, and professional and technical assistance. Rocky Mount has many agencies that are affiliated with the Business Center.

Other Resources

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